Nong Khiaw- we stayed only one night in this small but lovely
village en route to Muang Ngoi. We took a shared pickup truck from Luang Prabang for 40,000 Kip, the ride was very uncomfortable and took 4 hours. We were told there is a bus which would probably be more comfortable but it changes daily.
Muang Ngoi Neua is even more remote than Nong Khiaw and is only reachable by boat though a road is being built at this time. There is a daily boat from Nong Khiaw that leaves at 11:00 am and takes about 1 hour of sailing along the Nam Ou River (meaning the rice bowl river). We stayed in Saylom guesthouse in a cute bungalow overlooking the river for a record-breaking 30,000 Kip (under 4$). Though gaining popularity among backpackers in recent years the village still remains somewhat of a hidden gem. The limestone karst mountains that dominate the scenery are simply stunning. There are a few temples and caves to visit, as well as hikes and treks of all kinds but it is also a great place to just relax on a hammock and read a book.
Sampling local food
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| bamboo shoot soup, fried spring rolls and fried rice |
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| leaves stuffed with peanut paste |
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| vegetarian noodle soup with lots of herbs |
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| grilled bananas |
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| salad, eggplant dip and sticky rice |
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| papaya salad, pumpkin curry and sticky rice |
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| eggplant dip, sticky rice and Lao beer |
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